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The Ornamental Plant Germplasm Center (OPGC) is part of the National Plant Germplasm System, a network of organizations and people dedicated to preserving the genetic diversity of crop plants.

The OPGC is a joint effort of the USDA-ARS and The Ohio State University's Department of Horticulture and Crop Science. Financial support is provided through the Floriculture and Nursery Research Initiative of the ARS.

Mission and Goals

Our mission is to conserve genetically-diverse herbaceous plant germplasm and associated information, conduct germplasm-related research, and encourage the use of germplasm and associated information for research, crop improvement and product development.   

Our goals are to acquire, document, maintain, characterize and distribute herbaceous ornamental genetic resources and associated information for conservation, and to enhance scientific research as well as the floriculture and nursery industry. 

News

  1. Dublin Coffman High School Students Tour the OPGC

    Feb 28, 2025

    Thirty students from Dublin Coffman High School toured the OPGC on February 26.  Students learned about many aspects of germplasm conservation including using bumblebees for seed production, seed cleaning and x-rays, tissue culture, and more!  Students were given the opportunity to take and pot up cuttings of geraniums and begonias to take home and root, along with a gift bag including information about the germplasm system.

  2. OPGC Visiting Scholar Dr. Yanxiu Miao

    Feb 11, 2025

    Dr. Miao arrived in Ohio July 2024 and is spending one year at the OPGC researching how high temperatures affect the growth of Pelargonium and Viola.  Dr. Miao is an Associate Professor at Shanxi Agricultural University, Taiyuan City, in Shanxi Province, China.

  3. Research Assistant Matt Lippert holding a begonia plant.

    Welcome Research Assistant Matt Lippert!

    Jan 17, 2025

    Matt began working as a Research Assistant at the OPGC in December 2024; he will be managing the greenhouse and tissue culture plant collections.  Matt received his bachelor’s degree from The Ohio State University in Environmental Policy and Decision Making, and previously worked at Franklin Park Conservatory, and as a propagation specialist at Millcreek Gardens.

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